Stripping and husking machine



IA-IF. PANDO.

STRIPPING AND HUSKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4, 1916.

1,379,208. Patented May 24, 1921'.

5 SHEETS SHEET I.

WITNESSES IN VEA/ T08 A. F. PANDO.

STRIPPING AND HUSKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4, 1916- 1,3'79,208. Patented May 24, 1921.

I 5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A. F. PANDO.

STRIPPING AND HUSKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4, I9I6.

1,379,208. Patented May 24,1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

TIIE'ZB.

I wirivfssas I INVENTOR am I 001 r0 5. P4/I/00 I. I By fiH/IEYS A. F-PANDO.

STRIPPING AND HUSKING MACHINE,

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4, 1916..

: Pate nted May 24,1921.

5 SHEETSSHEET VIII! lll bl IIH II III I w QM WWII/E8855 A ITO/M578 A.FLPANDO.

STRIPPING AND HUSKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4,19i6.

Patented May 24, 1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

A TTORNEYS WITNESSES UNITED STATES rarest c erics.

ADOLFQ F. PANDO, 0F BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA.

STRIPPING AND HUSKING IJIACHINE.

awrence.

Application filed November 4, 1916.

1 '0 all whom it may concern:

lie it known that I, AnoLro FoRTUNA'ro Pacino, a citizen of th ArgentineRepublic, residing at Bartolom Mitre street, No. 343, Buenos Aires,Argentina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inStripping and Husking Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

My present invention relates to a machine for stripping and husking thecobs of maize plants, previously harvested either by another machine, orotherwise.

An apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention, is shown byway of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a lateral elevation of the complete machine.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the machine, showing the internalparts of the same.

Fig. 3 is a cross section, seen from the side of the elevator, showingsectional views of the arrangement of the internal parts.

Fig. 4 is a partial section, showing the resilient side of the feedinghoppers.

Fig. 5 is an upper view of another section of the same.

Fig. 6 shows an upper view of the husking device.

Fig. 7 is a cross section of a detail of the stripper.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view which shows the form and disposition of thehelicoid threads of the husking rollers.

The same reference numbers indicate the same or corresponding parts inall the views.

The corn stripping and husking machine substantially consists of thefollowing main aarts:

l A frame for supporting the several mechanical portions of theapparatus.

The stripping device for detaching the cobs from the stalks or plants.

The husking device for detaching the husks or leaves which inclose thecobs.

The elevator for raising the plants to the stripping rollers.

A series of hoppers, adapted for the adequate feeding of, the plantsinto the stripper.

A system of gear wheels, pinions, pulleys and driving belts and chainsfor imparting motion to the several working parts of the machine.

Referring first to the stripper, this de Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented May 24, 1921.

Serial No. 1295015 ribs or rifles running parallel to the axis of v theroller, so that the cross section of this latter resembles a ratchetwheel, as may be seen in Fig. 7; by means of this arrangement the cornplants are readily and firmly gripped and the petiole of the cob severedfrom the stalk, as will hereinafter be fully explained.

The roller 1 is mounted rotatively in two bearings 2, supported by thetimbers 8 of the frame of the machine. To one of the journals of saidroller, is bolted the fly wheel 4 which simultaneously serves as apulley, and on the opposite journal are mounted the sprockets 5 and 6for imparting motion to the elevator and to the husking device.

Parallel with said roller 1, at a small distance therefrom are mountedone or more rollers 7 (in the example of the invention shown, three ofsuch rollers are provided) having on their outer surface ribs or riflessimilar to thoseof the roller 1, and to the ends of the rollers 7 aresecured the hoops {3 which bear on the surface of the roller 1 in orderto limit the distance to which said rollers may approach each other; thehoops 8 serve at the same time to transmit the motion from the roller 1to the rollers 7 so that rotation of both rollers is performed inopposite direction The rollers 7 are mounted in brackets 9 of a specialshape which in turn are sup ported by the axle 10, mounted on the frameof the machine. 7

.The axle 10 of the brackets 9 is mounted parallel to the roller 1 andin such position that the path of movement of the rollers 7 toward theroller 1, within the limits ofits usual movement in use, is at a veryacute angle to and nearly parallel to the path of movement of the cornstalks between the stripping rollers 1 and 7 andin the same direction.As a result of this arrangement, slightly thicker portions of the cornstalks will engage a roller 7 on its under side within a certain limitedarea and will force the roller away from the roller 1 but abruptlythicker portions such as ears of corn will engage a roller 7 beyond suchlimited area and in such manner as to press the roller forwardly towardthe roller 1. The reason for such operation is obvious. When upwardpressure is applied to the periphery of the roller 7 at a point betweenthe point of contact of the rollers and a point in line with the centersof the roller shaft and the supporting axle such pressure will tend tomove the roller 7 backwardly with respect to the direction of feed awayfrom the fixed roller 1 but pressure applied at a point forward of suchline of centers would tend to move the roller 7 in the oppositedirection and towardthe fixed roller 1. An ear approachingthe strippingrollers would engage against the forward face of a roller 7 and tend, toforce the roller backward toward the fixed roller 1. An effect inoperation therefore is obtained by this diagonal movement of the roller7 that would not be obtained if the rollers 7 moved perpendicularly awayfrom the roller 1. The pressure on the stalks and damage thereto islimited by the hoops 8 and these hoops are preferably of such thicknessthat the stalks will not be unduly crushed but when an ear engages therollers 17116210131011 of the rollers against the base of the ear andagainst thc'stem there of will be sufiicient to detach the ear from thestalk Said rollercarrying brackets sides of which are formed by twoboards or plates 14,01 special shape, hinged to a vertical spindle 15,mounted inside of an angu- I lar piece 16, attached to the horizontalsides of the hoppers.

Every pair of said plates 14 is connected by means of aspring 17, forthe purpose of keeping them in a suitable position.

Behind the rollers 1 and 7, isprovided a discharge spout 18, opposite tothe feeding device, by which the stripped stalks are dis charged fromthe machine after passing between the stripping rollers.

' VUnder the stalk feedin device and on the same side ofthe apparatus,isanother hopper 19, of special design, which guides the detached cobstoward one end of the bushing device which is mounted in the frame ofthemachine, at the bottom of the hopper 19. g V V The husking rollers20, of suitable diameter, are provided on their entire length, "withhelicoid threads of special section (see 'Fig. 8).. ,As shown a thread.V-shaped in 7 cross section on each roller enters econsiderably largergroove rectangular in cross section'jand bears against theside thereof.

The, surfaces-of therollers are also provided with fine longitudinalribs or 'r ifles, running parallel to the axis of the rollers;

other, on two double bearings 21,-supported 111 turn on two girdersforming part of the .frame of the machine.

Along the sides of the rollers 20 and fixed to the frame, are two plates22 of steel or other suitable substance, having one of their edges,situated next to the rollers, somewhat sharpened, for the purpose ofdetaching from'the huslring rollers any husks or foreign matter whichmay adhere to them and interfere with their free rotation.

T 1e rollers 20 whichfor a certain length at one end are slightlysmaller in diameter than in the remaining part, are coupled together bymeans of two pinions 23, so that one of the rollers 20 will rotate in acontrary direction to the other, the'latter receiving its motion fromthe, roller 1, by means of the sprocket '5, chain 241 and sprocket 25,mounted on the journalof one of the rollers 20.

Transversely with regard to said-rollers 20, at a suitabledistance fromtheir ends andat a small distance above the rollers, are mounted twobeater bars 26, providedon partof theirlength with a semi-wrapperofrubber, leather or other suitable material, indicated at 2'7, andprovidedfor a convenient length on their lower side, with transverseribs or teeth.

Said beater bars are fixed atone end to a crank shaft 28, supported inthe bearings 29 through guiderslots 81, provided in a suit-- able partof the framing and wherein they areallowed to freely reciprocatehorizonsuit that the ends of the bars are, held in position but notrigidly, inthe guide-slots 31.

The rocking movement of the beater bars 26wh1ch at the lowest point isfrom right to left, as seen in F 1g. 2, 1s lmparted by'means ,of oneofthe pinions .23, a pulley which forms the hub of the same, belt'33and'pulley 34, mounted on the'crank shaft 28.

The bottom of the hopper 19 is provided at one side with an aperture 85,through which pass the'cobs fed along by the threads of the sides'of thehopper which extend nearly in contact with the middle of each I of saidrollers, so that the cobs-which move and 30, while their opposite endspass of the rollers 20, to av passage 36, the bottom on the same, willbe fed towardthedischarge opening 37, at the end of said passage orcasing, where any suitable receptacle may be placed for receiving thehusked cobs.

The frame which supports the above described machine is supported onfour feet 38.

The corn plant elevator consists of two parallel boards or plates 39,connected together by means of the cross bars 40 and supported at thelower end by the feet 41, while the upper end is suitably connected asat 42 to the frame of the stripping and husking machine.

Between the boards 39 moves an endless canvas belt 43, provided withcross bars having small pegs 44.

The endless canvas belt is mounted on two rollers, one 45, provided withstretchers 46, and mounted at one of the ends'of the boards 39, whilethe other, 47, is fixed in the frame of the machine, opposite the feederand parallel to the roller 1. Said roller 47 is provided at the endswith two washers 48, for guiding the canvas conveyer. v The roller 47transmits to the canvas the movement received from the sprocket 6, bymeans of the chain 49 and the sprocket 50, mounted on the journal ofsaid roller.

The operation of the above described corn stripping and husking machine,is as follows 7 After starting the machine by the application of anysuitable power to the fly wheel 4, the harvested corn plants are placedon the elevating canvas 43, with their stalks toward the feeder of thestripping machine.

The plants are fed along in this position into the hoppers 13, at thebottom of which they are seized by the ribs or teeth of the rollers 1;during their passage between the rollers 1 and 7, the stalks will becompressed by the action of the spring 12 which operates on the arms ofthe brackets 9.

As an ear arrives before the rollers 1 and 7, the increased diameter ofthe stem of the ear as compared with the diameter of the stalk, mayforce the rollers slightly apart, as is permitted by the resilientconnection of the arm 11 but as the shoulders of the ear engage therollers, the same will have a tendency to press the rollers 7 forwardlyin its path of movement toward the roller 1, thus increasing theoperative pressure of the rollers and submitting the petiole or stem ofthe ear to a tearing action with the result that the car will begradually loosened and finally detached by the action of the rollers.The hoops 8 of the rollers 7 prevent the rollore from approaching eachother too closely and thereby eventually tearing to pieces the wholestalk while the same is being loosened from the cob.

While the stripped stalks are being discharged through the spent 18, thecobs will fall into the hopper 19, at the bottom of which they aresubmitted to the action of the husking rollers 20,

The rollers 20 rotate in opposite directions, that is to say, both turntoward the small space left'between them, and while rotating, thehelicoid threads of the rollers will cause the cobs to travel throughthe opening 35, at the bottom of the hopper 19. As soon as the cobs arecarried by the rollers, which new approach each other very closely,beneath the beater bars 26, owing to the combined rocking and verticallyreciprocal motion of the same, the teeth on the under side of the barswill alternately seize the cobs, press them against the thread of therollers 20 and then loose them again, so that the cobs are tossed aboutand turn on their axis, with the result that the husk will be seized andtorn off by the threads and rifles of the rollers 20. The husks willbetween the rollers and fall to the ground, while the clean cobs, nolonger seized by the rollers, will travel along them and be dischargedthrough the opening 37.

Any grain which during this operation may become detached from the cobs,will pass between the rollers 20, through the space left between thethreads, falling to the ground together with the husks, from which itmay be separated in any convenient way. 7

When I speak in my claims of ribs for a roller, I do not mean that theynecessarily must be continuous; and when I speak of a fixed roller Imean a roller which is relatively stationary to the machine.

I declare that what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an ear and stalk separating mechanism I01 corn husking machlnes, afixed rotatable stripping roller, a second stripping roller co-actingtherewith, a pivoted arm at the free end of which said second roller isrotatably supported, the pivotal axis of said arm being behind the linejoining the centers of the two rollers and so positioned that themovement of the movable roller to and from the fixed roller is in a pathnearly parallel to the path of movement of the stalks between therollers, and means for feeding stalks between the rollers on the side infront of said line, whereby the rollers tend to approach one anotherwhen an ear reaches the point of tangency of the rollers.

2. In an ear and stalk separating mechanism for corn husking machines, afixed rotatable stripping roller, a second stripping roller coactingtherewith, a pivoted. arm at the free end of which said second roller isrotatably supported, the pivotal axis of said arm being behind butrelatively close to the line joining the centers of the two rollers, sothat the path of movement of the roller is nearly parallel to the pathof travel of the stalks between the rollers, a spring acting upon thepivoted arm to press the second roller toward the fixed roller, andmeans for feeding stalks between the rollers on the side in front ofsaid line, whereby the rollers tend to approach'one another when an earreaches the point of tangency of the rollers.

3. In an ear and stalk stripping mechanism for corn husking machines, afixed rotatable stripping roller, a second movable rotatable strippingroller co-acting there with mounted, for movement between the fixedroller in a path nearly parallel to the path of travel of the stalksbetween the rollers in such manner that an ear engaging the rollers willtend to press the movable roller toward the fixed roller.

4:. In an ear and stalk separating mecha nism for corn husking machines,fixed and movable rotatable stripping rollers between which the stalksare fed, means yieldably supporting the movable roller for movementtoward the fixed roller in a path at an acute angle to but nearlyparallel to the path of movement of the stalks between the rollers r amanner to tend to press the roller "forward along its path of movementtoward the fixed roller. 7

5. In a machine for husking corn, a plurality of cooperating huskingrollers, substantially straight beater bars lying trans- Versely abovethe bushing rollers provided with friction faces, slidably mounted andyieldably pressed toward the rollers at one end and a rotatable crankarm on which the other ends of said beater arms are mounted to givereciprocating and rocking movement to the beater arms whereby the beaterbars alternately rub over and free any cob which may be broughtbetween aheater arm and the rollers.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature.

ADOLFO F. PANDO.

